The Mystics no longer have a winning streak, but hope to start a new one against the struggling Wings
Game Info
When and where: Saturday June 22nd at 3:00 pm; Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental/ESPN3
Injuries:
Mystics—Brittney Sykes (OUT, Ankle); Shakira Austin (OUT, hip)
Wings—Kalani Brown (OUT), Maddy Siegrist (OUT, broken finger), Satou Sabally (OUT, shoulder), Jaelyn Brown (OUT, illness)
What to watch for
- The Mystics are coming off another tough loss against the Indiana Fever. Washington had to play without Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin again due to injuries. Their defense just couldn’t contain the Fever’s stars with Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston all having big nights. Despite a valiant effort by the team and Emily Engstler in particular in the fourth quarter, the Mystics couldn’t keep up with Indiana’s scoring and lost 88-81. The loss stopped the Mystics’ two-game winning streak, which included all of their wins this season.
- Luckily for Washington, the Wings are struggling even more than they are. Dallas has dropped nine consecutive games and is dealing with an onslaught of injuries. Satou Sabally has not played yet this season and two other key pieces are still out with injuries, Maddy Siegrist and Kalani Brown. Natasha Howard just returned to play her second game of the season on Thursday. Arike Ogunbowale missed a game, but has mostly played through an Achilles injury. You hate to see a team struggle with injuries, unless you are also a team struggling with injuries and need a win.
- Ariel Atkins has been thrust into an unenviable position again this season. She has to be the sole engine on both sides of the ball until her teammates can return. But Atkins is rising to the occasion again. She has scored 25 points or more in each of the last two games. It’s the first time she’s put up 25 points or more in consecutive outings in her career.